Walking a Fine Line
Lurking in the background, behind every Arab Spring which has morphed into an Islamist Springboard, is the patiently waiting Muslim Brotherhood. Their patience has rewarded them in the most populous country of the Middle East, where the Muslim Brotherhood now rules, albeit not with the comfortable assurance that the country of 80-million is satisfied with their democratic choice. But if there is anything that the cadres and the elites of the Brotherhood have learned, it is patience.All things come to those who wait. And to aid matters along, the Muslim Brotherhood has long practised its charitable agenda, aiding and nurturing the great masses of the poor in Arab and African countries, from Sudan to Jordan for popular support. King Abdullah II of Jordan, finding himself in a tenuous, unstable situation having to respond to protests of a still-orderly sort from the marginalized in society, has determined to guide his country toward democracy.
Unsurprisingly, there are no long-established political opposition parties, skilled in politics and prepared to make up a constituent national assembly, becoming lawmakers of the land. In a reflection of what occurred in Egypt, the sole well-organized and prepared-to-govern group is the Muslim Brotherhood which had heretofore maintained a low profile when the monarchy was more secure than it is currently.
The "decisive transitional period" that Jordan is going through will begin with the newly elected parliament electing a prime minister. This process will take place under palace supervision, until the fragmented political parties begin to mature politically so that future elections will be more organized, the various parties capable of effectively promulgating their ideologies for contention and support among the electorate.
"We will start as part of this new approach with consultations over the government's formation with the Lower House and parliamentary blocs as they take shape, in order to reach consensus that leads to the designation of a prime minister", announced King Abdullah. This, in an effort to avoid "political chaos", and even perhaps a serious challenge to the continued existence of the monarchy.
The election in January did not please the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming it was canted toward locally based independents rather than favouring ideological blocs. Hardly surprising, since the monarchy seeks to preserve itself. "The elections were held under a new election law that was not ideal, though it earned as much consensus as was possible", responded the king, who will meet new challenges as they arise.
Barring the possibility of an uprising in place of the polite wave of protests, small and peaceful, that erupt from time to time. A kinder, gentler Arab Spring that may succeed in supplanting the Islamist tide that has engulfed Egypt, Tunisia and Syria.
Labels: Controversy, Democracy, Islamism, Jordan
posted by Pieface @ Monday, February 11, 2013
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